What is Tui Shou?

Tui Shou, or more commonly known, Push Hands is a two person training routine in the internal arts i.e. Tai Chi, Bagua, Hsing Yi. When an individual sees/feels a force coming towards them from their partner, the natural instinct is to resist or stand form against the force. Working with a partner, a player begins to learn how to respond to an external force by not resisting, be yielding and then returning the movement back to its source. Playing with a partner, the player begins to train or develop their sensitivity to the energy of their partner. This sensitivity allows the player to understand where and how the force/energy is coming towards them and how to deflect and re-direct the force so it is neutralized.

Practicing Tui Shou also allows the player to put into practice the basic principles of Tai Chi - rooting, yielding and release of power (Fa Jing). Rooting allows the player to have a base from which to maintain their center, not be dislodged from their stance and then able to return the force/energy to the partner. Yielding is the ability to deflect and redirect the incoming force from the partner, which prevents the player from being dislodged. The release of power or Fa Jing would, with a practiced individuals, sending the energy/force to the partner, hopefully dislodging them from their stance.